WAYNESBURG, Pa. – Former long-time Pittsburgh Pirates broadcaster Lanny Frattare has joined the Waynesburg University Communication Department as the Assistant Professor of Communication, the University announced today. Frattare will also serve a role as the Special Assistant to University Relations. His duties begin immediately.
“We are very excited to add Lanny Frattare to our department faculty. He brings extensive experience in sports broadcasting,” said Richard Krause, assistant professor of communication and chair of the Communication Department. “The technical part of Waynesburg's communication program has been strong for some time. With the addition of Mr. Frattare, we have greatly enhanced the performance side. Our students are now receiving an amazing range of communication experiences.”
Frattare's main teaching duties will include sportscasting, news announcing, and public speaking courses. He will also work with the student sportscasters for the Waynesburg University Sports Network. Frattare will serve in the University Relations Office to offer assistance with radio advertising and sports information.
“When I stepped away from announcing Pirates games and started to write the next chapter of my life, I prayed to God for guidance. I wanted to know where he wanted me to be, and I believe that his answer was Waynesburg,” Frattare said. “The faculty, President Thyreen and his colleagues at Waynesburg were extremely gracious to me. They have shown great faith in me, and I am excited to make a difference in the lives of students.”
Prior to coming to Waynesburg University, Frattare established himself as one of the most recognizable personalities and voices in Pittsburgh and major league baseball as he spent 33 years as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates broadcast team. His stay with the Buccos is the longest of any play-by-play announcer in team history.
Known for his trademark phrases, “Go ball, get out of here,” and “There was no doubt about it,” Frattare joined the Pirates in 1976 after graduating from Ithaca College in 1970 with a degree in broadcasting.
A New York native, Frattare began his broadcasting career as a local disk jockey and sportscaster before moving to Charleston, W.Va., to become an announcer for the Charleston Charlies, who were then the Pirates' Class-AAA affiliate.
Like many of the players whose exploits he broadcasted, Frattare worked to get his call up to the majors, which occurred in 1975, when he replaced another legendary voice of the team, Bob Prince.
In 1976, the Pittsburgh icon teamed up with Milo Hamilton to become the team's on-air duo. After Hamilton left the Steel City to take a job with the Houston Astros, Frattare became the official voice of the Pirates.
During his more than three decades with the club, Frattare has experienced many highlights to a tremendous career. He was behind the mic for the Pirates when they won their last World Series title in 1979. This past August, he also called his 5,000th game with the club as the Buccos battled the Philadelphia Phillies.
Frattare has used his platform as a celebrity to help others. For 23 years, Frattare has been a part of the Family Links Golf Classic, which has raised in excess of 1.8 million dollars for over 32,000 children, families and mentally challenged individuals that are helped out by Family Links.
